Take A Stand For Safety During Falls Prevention Awareness Week
About every ten seconds an older adult suffers from a fall. It adds up to millions per year, but it doesn’t have to be so bad. Most falls are preventable – you just have to know what to do!
This week is Falls Prevention Awareness Week. Preventing falls is important to the health and safety of older adults year-round, but with another Iowa winter coming up in a couple months it’s even more critical.
We have tips and resources compiled for you here and will be sharing more all week long on our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/HeritageAAA
Here are a few easy ways to get started in preventing falls:
See your doctor. Discuss the medications you’re taking and their possible side effects. Ask about any of your health conditions that could lead to a fall. Also be sure to tell them if you’ve fallen before.
Keep on moving. With your doctor’s permission, get involved with gentle exercises like walking, water workouts or tai chi for older adults. Activities like these improve strength, balance, coordination and flexibility.
Wear appropriate shoes. Even if they aren’t your preferred style, new and safer footwear can go a long way toward staying upright. Make sure shoes fit properly, are made of sturdy materials and have non-slip soles.
Do some interior designing. Regardless of how comfortable you feel navigating your home, it can still be filled with risks. Make sure to remove tripping hazards, keep high-traffic areas clear, secure loose flooring and rugs, use non-slip mats or seats in the shower and always clean up after spills.
Brighten things up. A well-lit home helps you identify hard-to-see hazards. Light switches and lamps should be easy to get to and should always be on if you’re moving around at night. Bonus tip: stash flashlights around the home in case the power goes out.
Use a little help. Assistive devices may be recommended by your doctor, but you can always be proactive and add them yourself. Consider a cane/walker, grab bars, handrails on stairways, raised toilet seats, non-slip treads for wooden flooring and more.
There’s a good list to get you started. Remember to check our Facebook page for more tips and join us this week in taking a stand for the safety of older Iowans!
Bryan leads us through the full Tai Chi for Older Adults form. Learn the movements in his series here.